Bachelor's degrees in natural sciences and engineering conferred per 1,000 individuals 18–24 years old

Findings

Between 2000 and 2009, the value of this indicator did not change appreciably.

In 2009, the value of this indicator ranged from 3.9 to16.0 natural sciences and engineering (NS&E) bachelor's degrees conferred per 1,000 individuals 18–24 years old for individual states.

The states conferring the largest number of bachelor's degrees in NS&E fields were California, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

States that ranked in the top 2 quartiles on this indicator were generally the same as those in the top 2 quartiles for the number of bachelor's degrees conferred per 1,000 individuals 18–24 years old.

Description

Natural sciences and engineering (NS&E) fields include the physical, earth, ocean, atmospheric, biological, agricultural, and computer sciences; mathematics; and engineering. NS&E fields do not include social sciences and psychology. This indicator is the ratio of new NS&E bachelor's degrees to the population ages18–24 years and represents the extent to which a state prepares young people to enter technology-intensive occupations that are fundamental to a knowledge-based, technology-driven economy. In addition, the presence of higher education institutions that produce such degrees may generate resources for the state. The cohort 18–24 years old was chosen to approximate the age range of most students who are pursing an undergraduate degree.

The number of NS&E bachelor's degrees awarded is based on an actual count provided by the National Center for Education Statistics. Estimates of the population ages 18–24 years are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Small differences in the value of the indicator between states or across time generally are not meaningful.

Because students often relocate after graduation, this measure does not necessarily indicate the qualifications of a state's future workforce. A state's value for this indicator may also be high when its higher education system draws a large number of out-of-state students who study NS&E fields, a situation that occurs in the District of Columbia and some states with small resident populations.

Data Table

Table 8-18

Bachelor's degrees in natural sciences and engineering conferred per 1,000 individuals 18–24 years old, by state: 2000, 2005, and 2009

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